Tribute to Modern and Cold War Soviet/Russian/East European Artillery Systems

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The Red Army
On November 19, 1990 the Conventional Forces in Europe Treaty (CFE) was signed in Paris by all 22 member nations. At a stroke the Warsaw Pact’s numerical superiority was gone and both sides scrapped 70,000 pieces of Treaty-Limited Equipment. The Soviet Union still held large stockpiles behind the Urals and moved some 800 tanks and APCs to these regions to circumvent the Treaty. In 2002 the USA finally abrogated the ABM Treaty after numerous breaches and in response the Soviet Union pulled out of the CFE moving back two armoured divisions into Eastern Europe and 1,000 armoured vehicles and 100 attack helicopters.

In 2005 the Red Army looked like this;

Strategic Rocket Forces
START II was ratified in January 1993 and has radically altered the nuclear capabilities of the Soviet war machine. All MRV and MIRV equipped land-based missiles have been scrapped, or converted to single warhead status, and total warheads now only number 3,100. Out of these more than 1,744 may be carried by submarines, no more than 800 by land-based ICBMs and no more than 1,500 by manned bombers or air-launched missiles. Up to 100 extra bombers have been declared as conventional bombers.
All SS-18, SS-24 and part of the SS-19 fleet has been withdrawn, some SS-19 will be retained until 2007 as single warhead missiles. The new 10,500km range RS-12M2 Topol-M (SS-27) land-mobile ICBM was declared operational in 1998 in one regiment with 10 missiles. A second regiment was formed in 1999 and since 2000-2003 30 missiles a year have been built and from 2005 50 will be built a year until 230 are completed. These will replace the current ICBMs, 230 on mobile TELs and 90 in converted SS-18 silos.
The SS-X-26 Kurier, SS-X-27 RT-2PM2 Universal and the SS-X-28 Albatros programmes to create a large fleet of cheap missiles to defeat any planned SDI system by sheer mass was abandoned in October 1991 when it seemed unlikely such a system would appear and that fact that START I was reducing nuclear fleets anyway. The planned RT-23M Yarmak was an improved RT-23 (SS-24) with a 10 MIRV warhead and development ended in 1993 when START II was signed. As many as 7 missiles had been tested by that time. The R-36M3 Ikar was to be a solid-fuel replacement for the SS-18 but instead was cancelled in 1993 due to START II.

Main Battle Tanks
T-54/ T-55
Few are left in Soviet service but around 5,000 may still be stored. Most combat engineer versions are still in service. Since 1994 around 400 tanks have been upgraded with new engines and laser rangefinders and sold to African and Asian allies as basic tanks more suited to conscript armies as the T-55S.
Romania has fitted its entire fleet with side skirts, laser range-finder, and new fire-control systems and improved engine cooling.
Slovenia has upgraded its entire inventory as the M-55 S1 with new armour, L7 105mm gun, British fire-control systems and a new Czech-built engine.

T-62
Although a few T-62MV with laser-guided munitions and ERA remain in Soviet service a further 2,000 are still stored. None are left in Warsaw Pact service.

T-72
Still in production for the export market the Soviet Army and Warsaw Pact nations now mainly use the T-72 tank. Current versions are the T-72M1 with thicker armour but upgraded from T-72A models, the T-72AV with ERA, T-72BK command tank, T-72S2 the most recent export standard since 1997 with ERA and laser-guided fire-control systems and the T-72BM with newer ERA and the T-72BVM with Shotra-1 self-defensive suite, newer ERA and a new transmission much like the T-90. All B variants in Soviet and Warsaw Pact service feature AT-11 Sniper ATGW capability.
Production in Czechoslovakia ended in 1992 but upgrading continues, India now builds the T-72M1 and upgraded their entire fleet to the same standard, Iran builds the T-72S and Iraq builds the T-72M1 in limited numbers with a French fire-control system and a new western diesel engine. Production in Poland has moved on to newer developments.
Since 1987 the Soviet Army has begun to standardise on the T-72 as the engineering base to replace the T-55 variants. These include the MTU-72 AVLB, BREM-1 ARV, BREM-2 ARV, IMR-2 combat engineer vehicle, BMR-3M minesweeper and BMPT tank support vehicle.

T-64
Never a success and never exported all surviving types now serve in eastern areas as training vehicles and have been upgraded to T-64BV and T-64BV-1 standard with ERA. A few T-64R with the gun of the T-80 are still in service too.

T-80
Entering service in 1983 as a development of the T-64 with a new smoothbore 125mm gun able to fire the AT-8 Songster missile, around 30,000 have now been built and in Soviet service. None have been exported except for 200 T-80UD to East Germany in 1999. Development followed two lines, the gas turbine powered T-80U and the diesel powered T-80UD.
The T-80U, first seen in 1989, suffers from very low range due to high fuel consumption and was followed by the T-80UK command tank and the follow-on T-80UM in 1991 with a new 1,250hp gas turbine and a new fire-control system. From 1998 the T-80UM-1 entered service with the Shtora-1 system which decoys and jams missile guidance with powerful IR pulses and the Arena millimetric radar system detects incoming projectiles and fires a screen of mini-slugs to deflect or destroy them. There is also an automatic laser-detecting self-defence suite (when a range-finding laser is detected it fires countermeasures and slews the turret onto the bearing of the source). In 2002 a new cast turret with thicker armour and new double-layer ERA was added as the T-80UM-2.
The T-80UD had a 1,100hp diesel to cure the low range but production ended in 1994 in favour of the T-80UM.
The BREM-80 ARV uses the T-80 hull and an 840hp V-84MS diesel engine but only 200 have been built.

T-84
Developed at the Kharkov Moroznov Design Bureau since 1995 the T-84 is an upgraded T-80 with a larger turret with thicker composite armour, new transmission, Shotra-2, an upgraded Arena-2 system, AT-11 capability and a new 1,200hp 6TD-2 diesel engine. A millimetric radar is also fitted to the external turret along with an IFF system. The Relikit ERA system detonates before the incoming round hits from information provided a millimetric radar and is five times more effective than any other such armour. Radar absorbent paints are also used to lower the radar returns to airborne systems. Fewer than 600 T-84A and T-84K variants are in service but all are based in the Western TVD or in East Germany. Production began in 1998 but no exports have been made.

T-90
When rumours of a new lightweight tank based on the T-72 and T-80 surfaced in the early 1990s it seemed a poor choice for a future tank given the capability of the T-80 series. In fact the T-90 was an export type and only around 100 have ever entered Soviet service although most Warsaw Pact nations have some and East Germany has 500. Production began in 1994 and the T-90 has the Shotra-1 system, Arena system, fire-control and the new ERA of the T-80UM-1 with a revised T-72 hull, new transmission and upgraded V-84MS diesel engine. The 125mm gun fires the AT-11 Sniper laser-guided missile. The T-90S is the cheaper basic export version without AT-11 capability or Shotra-1. Variants are the T-90K command tank, IMR-2MA engineer tank (East Germany and USSR brought a batch each), MTU-90 AVLB (East Germany and India). Sales so far are East Germany 500, Hungary 120, Bulgaria 60, India 500, Syria 250, Cuba 100 and Vietnam 50.

T-95
Rumours began to leak in the early 1990s that alongside the T-90 the Soviets were building a high-risk advanced MBT, possibly with an external gun mounting and thus having no turret. No solid news has ever emerged in the West about the T-95 but it seems prototypes of such a tank began trials during 1999. The first such prototype developed at Kharkov KB first ran in 1987 using as T-80 chassis with an external turret, development went back as far as 1984. It is thought development of the T-95 began in 1988 and that trials began in 1994. The chassis houses a crew of three, a multi-fuel gas turbine engine and is armoured with advanced composite armour with depleted uranium layers and the latest ERA. The 125mm smoothbore gun is mounted in an external pod with 36 rounds of ammunition.
In 2002 the T-2000 Black Eagle was revealed to the West during a small private display for the US Secretary of Defence during his visit to Moscow. This tank was supposed to be a second-generation T-95. It weighs 48,000kg, is 6.9m long, 3.5m wide and 1.8m high. A newly developed 1,500hp GTD-1500 diesel powers the tank to 44mph and the range is around 280 miles. The external pod carries a 2A23 125mm smoothbore gun and a co-axial 7.62mm MG. AT-11 Sniper can also be fired and rate of fire is 14rpm. Over the commanders hatch is one 12.7mm AA MG. The three crew sit in an armoured capsule within the hull and have three sets of periscopes and three electro-optical sights. A millimetric radar is also fitted to the external turret along with an IFF system. The Relikit ERA actually detonates before the incoming round hits from information provided by the radar and is five times more effective than any other such armour. It is thought as many as 150 may have entered Soviet service from 2000 as the T-95.

Pz-85
East Germany opened the Dresden Tank Bureau in 1985 and produced the design for a main battle tank and a common chassis for an IFV and APC. The latter became the SPz-87 and the MRT. The tank became the Pz-85. Based on the T-72 it weighs 45,450kg, is 9.87m long, 3.6m wide and 2.22m high, a 950hp Type DM-712S diesel is fitted as is the complete gun and fire-control systems of the T-80 (including AT-8 capability) and Polish developed ERA and smoke-dischargers. Basic AVLB and ARV variants were built from 1997. Around 250 have been built and production ended in 1999 with Soviet pressure and the T-90 was brought instead of the planned upgraded Pz-85M. Tanks fitted with Shotra-1 are designated Pz-85AM.

PT-91
Poland has built hundreds of T-72M1 and T-72M1K tanks and from this experience developed the PT-91. This combines a T-72 hull with a Polish 848hp Type S-12U diesel engine, Polish developed ERA, Polish developed laser-warning system, digital fire-control, improved NBC system, new fire suppression system, new tracks with rubber pads and better mine protection. The prototype completed in 1992 and since then 400 have been built and the chassis is used for the WZT-3 ARV, MID armoured engineer vehicle, PMC-90 AVLB and a driver training tank. The rumoured Goryl tank with better dual-layer ERA never appeared in frontline service.

Romanian Tanks
Romania has built copies of many Soviet tanks and almost all remain in service today. The TR-580 of 1985 was a T-55 copy with six road wheels and side skirts; the TR-85 which followed was similar but had a laser-rangefinder, more angular turret and different engine decks with a 600hp German diesel. The TR-85M1 has extra frontal armour on the turret and other improvements. This was followed by the TR-800 which has larger skirts, new 830hp diesel and better fire-control equipment. The TR-125 is a T-72 copy with seven road wheels and better armour but few were built. The TR-800 was the basis for the TER-800 ARV.

Infantry Fighting Vehicles and APCsSoviet and Warsaw Pact IFVs and APC including new conversions and East German APCs based on the MT-LB.

BMP-1
The APC that began the IFV revolution and the first vehicle that packed the firepower of a light tank with an infantry section and was amphibious and fast enough to keep pace with the tank columns of the Red Army. Large numbers still remain in Soviet and Warsaw Pact service and include the BMP-1F reconnaissance model used by Hungary, the AT-4 equipped BMP-1P, the BRM-1K reconnaissance model with a 30mm cannon, BREM-1 and BREM-4 ARVs, BMP-1KShM unarmed command variant, the Polish built BWP, various Czech versions including the OT-90 with the turret of the OT-64 with one 14.5mm HMG and one 7.62mm MG (nearly all Czech BMP-1s were converted to this standard to circumvent the CFE treaty which classified the BMP-1 with its 73mm gun as a light tank), mine clearing variants, PRP-3 two-man radar vehicle, the IRM amphibious reconnaissance vehicle and the BMP-POO training vehicle.

BMP-2
Still in service in large numbers with Soviet and Warsaw Pact nations as an IFV with some 500 upgraded BMP-2M with the new Kliver one-man powered turret (as fitted to the BTR-80) with an externally mounted 30mm cannon, 30mm automatic grenade launcher and one 7.62mm MG and upgraded appliqué armour. Czech versions are called the BVP-2.

BMP-3
First seen in 1990 the BMP-3 goes back to the roots of the BMP-1 offering firepower to support its infantry section. The turret is features one rifled 100mm gun with a co-axial 30mm cannon and one 7.62mm MG and two bow-mounted 7.62mm MGs. The 100mm gun can fire six AT-10 laser-guided missiles. The vehicle is fully amphibious and no less than 5,000 have been built since 1989. Most are the standard type IFV and none have been exported outside the USSR. In 2003 the BMMP entered service with the Naval Infantry fitted with the turret of the BMP-2 without ATGWs. The BRM-3 is a reconnaissance variant and 1,200 will replace the BRDM-2 armoured car by 2009. They are armed with a 30mm cannon in a new turret with a co-axial 7.62mm MG. Six crew are carried and the four operators in the rear have various electro-optical and target finding systems including a retractable mast and Shotra-1 self-defence systems. Other variants include the BREM-L ARV, BMP-3K command vehicle, a driver training vehicle, the BMP-3P anti-tank vehicle armed with a retractable launcher for six AT-14 Kornet ATGW and a crew of three. Only one 7.62mm is carried. Only 100 of these have been built since 1996 but 800 of the BMP-3PM with the fully automatic radar-guided AT-15 Khrizantema system are planned to enter service from 2007. This currently is the world’s most advanced anti-tank system and the first to be completely automatic with radar guidance or a semi-auto laser guided mode.

MT-LB
Introduced in the late 1960s as a general purpose tracked chassis it is used as a basic APC or artillery tractor. Production in Soviet and Polish factories has ended but Bulgaria continues production for its own needs and for export. Variants still in use are; MT-LBV with 565mm wide tracks, MY-LBU command version with radio, generator and a Glonass navigation system. TT-LB with ‘Big Fred’ artillery/ mortar locating radar, MTP-LB repair vehicle with crane and winch, MT-LB engineers vehicle, MT-LB ambulance, RKhM NBC reconnaissance vehicle, MT-LB Mortar with one 82mm or 120mm mortar, MT-LP anti-tank version with a retractable AT-6 launcher. Poland has a MT-LB variant with the turret of the OT-64C with 14.5mm and 7.62mm MGs.

BMD-1
Developed for the Airborne Forces the BMD-1 was first seen in 1973 and fitted with the turret of the BMP-1. It is amphibious and has hydropneumatic suspension. Most of these have had the AT-3 Sagger removed and replaced by the AT-4 Spigot as the BMD-1P. Most are now in reserve or in Indian and Iraqi service.

BTR-D
A larger APC variant of the BMD-1 with a sixth road wheel, no turret and a higher troop compartment. Also in service as the BMD-KShM command vehicle, 1V118 artillery observation post, 1C119 artillery fire direction vehicle, BREM-D ARV, BTR-D with ZU-23 AA gun and the BMD-KShMR RPV launcher and command vehicle.

BMD-2
By the early 1980s the BMD-2 entered service with the turret of the BMP-2 with a 30mm cannon and AT-5 Spandrel ATGW. Only one bow-mounted 7.62mm MG is fitted. These remain in service with Airborne Forces.

BMD-3
Production of the larger and heavier BMD-3 began in 1989 and has become the standard IFV for the Airborne Forces replacing most of the older BMD-1. Armament is the same as the BMD-2 but it carries five rather than four troops. In 1992 the RKhM-5 NBC reconnaissance vehicle entered service and was followed by the turret-less BTR-DM multi-purpose carrier. Since 1998 the BMD-3M with the turret of the BMP-3 has entered service as the new IFV/ light tank.

BTR-T
Exercises in East Germany during the early 1990s showed that the frontline IFV waves would be decimated by the modern ATGW fielded by NATO forces and that even the new BMP-3 could not withstand the punishment the tanks of the Red Army could. In a real war the tanks would lack enough infantry support. It was then the Army began experiments with converted surplus tanks. Since 1997 around 500 stored T-55 tanks have been rebuilt as BTR-T assault IFVs.
A refurbished 580hp diesel is fitted; the turret replaced by a compartment for five infantry men. Ahead of that is a one-man Kliver turret with 30mm cannon, 30mm automatic grenade launcher, 7.62mm MG and AT-4 Spigot ATGW. The troops only have roof hatches but it is a cheap and effective way to get infantry under thick armour. Extra armour and ERA is also added.

BTR-70
Still in widespread Soviet and Warsaw Pact use but being steadily replaced by the BTR-90 in Motor Rifle units but still remains the main Naval Infantry APC. Variants include the BTR-70MS turret-less radio vehicle, BTR-70MBP artillery command vehicle, BTR-70KShM command vehicle, BREM ARV, BTR-70Kh NBC reconnaissance vehicle and the SPR-2 radar jammer.

BTR-80
While the BTR-70 was an improvement it still had two petrol engines and had poor access. The BTR-80 has a new diesel engine and is a much better APC. Production ended in 1995 and it has become the main wheeled APC of the Soviet Army and was exported to Finland, Hungary and Turkey. Since 1996 around 1,000 have been refitted with the one-man Kliver turret (without the 30mm grenade launcher). Variants include the BTR-80KshM command vehicle, RKhM-4 NBC reconnaissance vehicle, BREM-K ARV, SPR-3 radar jammer and the BTR-80PB FAC control vehicle with Plexiglas dome and radio equipment.

BTR-90
Developed in the early 1990s by the Arazmas Machine Construction Plant the BTR-90 features a 510hp diesel engine, greater internal volume, thicker armour and the complete turret of the BMP-2 with AT-5 Spandrel and a newer fire-control system. It replaced the BTR-80 on the production line in 1996 and around 1,200 have been ordered to replace the last of the BTR-70s and to re-equip the Naval Infantry units and it has begun to equip the Soviet Border Guards (but these APCs lack the ATGW). East Germany and Poland have ordered around 250 each but no other variants have yet been built.

BMP-23
Bulgaria needed a modern IFV and so used the basis of the MT-LB (built in Bulgaria) and 2S1 SPG to create a vehicle very similar to the BMP-2. The turret is armed with one 23mm cannon and a co-axial 7.62mm MG with a roof-mounted AT-3 Sagger launcher. Seven infantrymen are carried. The related BRM-23 is similar but has five crew and additional Soviet-supplied observation equipment. The modernised BMP-23A had smoke-dischargers and AT-4 Spigot ATGW. The most recent Bulgarian IFV is the BMP-30 with the complete turret of the BMP-2.

OT-62B
Developed jointly by Czechoslovakia and Poland as their version of the BTR-50PK the OT-62 entered Czech service in 1964 and Polish service in 1966. Today only the Polish Naval Infantry have any APC variants and a few WPT-TOPAS ARVs remain in Polish service and the Czechs have a few DPT-62 repair vehicles and OT-62R radio communications vehicles.

OT-64C
Known in Poland as the SKOT-2A this is a joint Czech-Polish eight-wheeled APC. Around 700 in both countries have been upgraded with new suspension and a 200hp Tatra diesel engine. The OT-64C2 (SKOT-2AP) remains in service as an APC alongside the various command, radio, re-supply and repair variants of both countries.

SPz-87
Based on the chassis and running gear of the MRT the Dresden Tank Bureau the SPz-87 was developed and entered service in 1988. Weighing 14,680kg the SPz-87 is 6.82m long, 3.15m wide and 2.68m high carries seven infantrymen and has armour 50-12mm thick. ERA can be fitted and the turret has a 30mm cannon, 30mm grenade launcher, 7.62mm MG and roof-mounted AT-5 Spandrel. A 300hp DM-7100M diesel gives a top speed of 40mph and a range of 380 miles. The SPz-87 is fully amphibious and around 650 have been built. Variants include the SPz-87K command vehicle, SPz-87B ARV and the SPz-87Z support vehicle with the turret of the BMP-3.

MRT
This is the East German version of the MT-LB with the running gear of a BMP-2 with a new high APC hull with roof hatches and rear doors. Weighing 12,200kg the MRT is 6.82m long, 3.15m wide and 2.11m high, carries ten-twelve infantrymen and has armour 20-10mm thick. A 300hp DM-7100A diesel gives a top speed of 42mph and a range of 380 miles. A remotely operated 12.7mm HMG turret is fitted to all variants. The APC has two rifle ports These include command, repair, ARV, artillery locating radar carrier, engineering and mortar carriers with 81mm and 120mm mortars. In 1995 the MRT-Pz entered service with a retractable launcher for 20 AT-14 Kornet ATGW.

PSZH-IV
Developed by Hungary as a light 4x4 APC today it only serves as an internal security vehicle and around 100 have been sold to various Soviet client states in Africa. The PSZH-CH NBC reconnaissance variant remains in service.

MLVM
Developed by ROMARM in Romania the MLVM meets a need for an APC which could operate in mountainous terrain. It is a basic type which seats 7 infantry and has a turret with a 14.5mm HMG and one 7.62mm MG. The MLVM AR carries a 120mm mortar and the ABAL is a combat supply vehicle.

MLI-84
Basically a licence built BMP-1 with heavier armour, different engine and a 12.7mm HMG over the rear roof hatches. Only 184 were built and none were ever exported. Since 1998 the whole fleet has been upgraded to MLI-84M standard with a 400hp Perkins diesel, new suspension and a Kliver turret but retaining the AT-3 Sagger.

TAB-71
First seen in Romania in 1972 the TAB-71 is a modernised BTR-60 development with two 140hp petrol engines. Few remain in Romanian service except for numerous repair and command vehicles.

TAB-77
A developed TAB-71 with local diesel engines and a new Romanian developed turret with one 14.5mm HMG and one 7.62mm MG. Still in widespread service as a basic APC other variants include the TAB-77 PCOMA artillery observation vehicle, TAB-77A command post and the TERA-77L ARV.

TAB-79
A 4x4 version of the 8x8 TAB-77 developed by ROMARM as a four-seat APC. It has the turret of the MLVM and is fully amphibious. Variants include the TAB-79A PCOMA artillery observation vehicle with one 7.62mm MG, TAB-79AR 82mm mortar carrier, TAB RCH-84 NBC recce vehicle, AM 425 SA-9 SAM carrier and the TAB-79M turret-less APC with one pintle mounted 7.62mm MG.